Updated: March 28, 2024
Name: Smelov Aleksey Valeriyevich
Date of Birth: November 16, 1974
Current status: who has served the main sentence
Articles of Criminal Code of Russian Federation: 282.2 (1)
Sentence: penalty in the form of a fine in the amount of 400,000 rubles

Biography

On July 31, 2019, FSB officers in the cities of Petrozavodsk and Kondopoga conducted mass searches in the homes and workplaces of civilians only because of their religion. A criminal case has been initiated against 44-year-old Alexei Smelov, and a written undertaking not to leave has been taken. What is known about him?

Alexey was born in 1974 in Kondopoga (Republic of Karelia). His parents are no longer alive, but he has an older brother. As a child, until the age of 18, he was actively engaged in swimming and playing hockey. There are certificates for achievements in these sports.

Graduated from the St. Petersburg State Technological University of Plant Polymers. For many years he worked as a repairman at the Kondopoga Pulp and Paper Mill. For the past few years, he has been working as a mechanical engineer.

For a long time, Alexei was worried about what happens after death and whether there is any hope for those who have died. When he learned from the Bible that the resurrection awaited the dead, he was comforted and began to become more deeply acquainted with this ancient book. There was a desire to bring my life into harmony with the Christian commandments.

He met his future wife Irina in 1993, and two years later they got married. Irina worked as a kindergarten teacher, at the moment she runs the household. The couple have three children: two daughters and a son. In their free time, they like to relax with friends and go fishing together.

The news of the criminal prosecution of Alexei, the sole breadwinner, shocked his entire family. His wife and children endured severe stress, fearing that they would no longer see their loved one. Because of the incident, the question of the financial situation of the family arose. Relatives, friends and even work colleagues who love and appreciate Alexei are perplexed because of such an unfair attitude towards him.

Case History

In July 2019, the deputy head of the FSB Directorate for the Republic of Karelia, M. Golubenko, opened a criminal case for organizing the activities of an extremist organization against Alexei Smelov, a father of three children. The basis for this was the report of FSB Lieutenant Usoltsev, who portrayed interest in the Bible and kept hidden audio recordings of divine services and conversations with believers. The house of Smelov and 16 other families of civilians in Kondopoga and Petrozavodsk were searched. Aleksey was interrogated twice, after which they took a written undertaking not to leave the place. In April 2021, Smelov’s case went to court. It was considered by Judge Alexander Ivanov. Although the prosecution did not provide facts of extremist calls or actions, the prosecutor requested a fine of 500 thousand rubles for him. After the debate, the court decided to continue the proceedings. As a result, Alexey Smely was fined 400,000 rubles in April 2022. The appellate court upheld the verdict.